Nab that golden opportunity to become part of the style biz with this treasure trove of insider advice from nine of the industry's top role models

You're Hired! How to Land a Job in Fashion

You're Hired! How to Land a Job in Fashion

These days, it seems like everyone wants to work in fashion. But there's a lot more to it than scoring a spot on a reality TV show or training a digital camera on New York Fashion Week showgoers—or yourself—and uploading the results to Tumblr. Fashion is, after all, a billion dollar industry. Designing clothes or looking cute on a street-style blog are just a part of the equation. We've convened a panel of some of the biggest movers and shakers—including Fern Mallis, Kirna Zabête cofounder Sarah Easley, ELLE Fashion News Director Anne Slowey, and designer Chris Benz—to give you the lowdown on what it really takes to land this dream job.

THE ROLE MODEL: Fern Mallis, former executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and current fashion consultant and host of the Fashion Icons series at 92Y, where she chats up such luminaries as Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, and Suzy Menkes

JOB: Fashion ExecutiveTHE TIP: "Have knowledge of everything that goes on in the industry," said Mallis. "And attend as many industry events as possible—especially if you’re in NYC, where they are free and mostly accessible. It's always advisable meeting someone you’d like to work with face to face. You’d be surprised how many people are open about giving their business cards and following up!"

JOB: DesignerTHE TIP: "Don't forget that fashion is also a business," Benz said. "I am obviously very fortunate to do what I do and I pinch myself every day, but it is really hard work and important to note that the fashion calendar is not considerate of summer vacations."